As of June 30, state legislatures had already exceeded the number of laws and resolutions enacted in all of 2012. Lawmakers in 43 states and the District of Columbia enacted 146 laws and 231 resolutions related to immigration, for a total of 377—a 83 percent increase from the 206 laws and resolutions enacted in the first half of 2012. This increase was driven in large part by a spike in resolutions, with Texas alone adopting 96 resolutions commending the contributions of immigrants and seeking federal action. Excluding resolutions, enacted legislation increased 28 percent in 2013 compared to the same timeframe in 2012, with 146 laws compared to 114. This level of legislative action, however, remains below the 162 laws enacted in 2011.

• Budget and appropriations. Authorizing funds for immigration enforcement, English language and citizenship classes, and migrant and refugee programs were among the actions that accounted for 14 percent of this year’s laws.

• Education. Another 16 percent of laws defined immigration and residency requirements for college students, with three states extending instate tuition benefits to unauthorized immigrant students.

• Law enforcement. Although 14 acts related to law enforcement were passed, also accounting for 11 percent of action in 2013, that number is significantly lower than the 20 enforcement laws passed by June 2012, or the 42 enacted as of June 2011.

• Employment. Ten percent of laws focused on employment, particularly to verify work authorization and address noncompliance, while other laws addressed workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance.

• Health. Another 10 percent of laws addressed issues such as eligibility for Medicaid or licensing for health professionals.